All posts by: Carey Rossi

How to: Hire a personal trainer

Fitness & Sports
By Carey Rossi on January 2, 2013 in

Drill sergent, personal trainer or both

If your quest to improve your health includes getting in shape, you may want to enlist the help of a personal trainer. But finding one that is knowledgeable about the body and can motivate you can be tricky. Here's a play book to finding a personal trainer that is right for you: Read more

How to: Hire a financial planner

Family & Pets
By Carey Rossi on January 2, 2013 in

Credit card on ice

A few years ago, I had a good friend who was drowning in debt. As an exteme measure, she put her credit cards in a container of water and placed it in the freezer. She was moving to a cash-only system and a drawer wouldn't be enough to contain them. If she felt the need to use her credit cards then she would have to think long and hard during the thaw.

It definitely was a creative plan to get her finances in order and it did help for a bit. However, there were other aspects like retirement and saving that weren't taken into account.

As we embark on 2013, getting our financial house in order could be on your resolution list. A financial planner might be someone you want to turn to for help. However, this needs to be a cautious endeavor. According to a 2009 survey of certified financial planners that's part of the CFP Board of Standards Self Defense Guide, 60 percent knew a consumer who had experienced fraud or abuse by another advisor. Yikes! What's more: Anyone can call themselves a planner.

Read more

Resolution: To quit smoking this year

Health & Beauty
By Carey Rossi on January 2, 2013 in

broken cigarette

Want to quit smoking in 2013? Read on to find out what methods may help you curb the cigarette habit this year and beyond.

There are only three proven ways to stop smoking: nicotine prescription medications (mainly patches, but also lozenges, pills and chewing gum); non-nicotine prescription medications varenicline (Chantix) and buproprion (Zyban); and quitting cold turkey within a support network. All three of these treatments work better, experts agree, when pursued along with therapy. It should be noted, however, that none of these therapies are guaranteed to work for everyone, and data on success rates varies from six to 25 percent. Here's what the experts have to say about treatments to quit smoking: Read more

Reach your resolutions for free

Health & Beauty
By Carey Rossi on January 2, 2013 in

Coffee cups, keyboard and notepad

If you've made a resolution that requires you to change your behavior -- eat less, move more, stop watching so much television, read more books, etc. The key to achieving success is to write it down, especially if losing weight is on your list. Read more

Analyzing the circulars: Best Buy's best (and worst) Black Friday deals

By Carey Rossi on November 20, 2012 in

Best Buy

Televisions, tablets, cameras...

Black Friday is a boon for this big box electronics store, especially when it comes to TVs. That's where Best Buy comes in.

Best Buy starts their door-busting madness at midnight on Friday. Best Buy starts handing out tickets for their deals two hours prior to opening. They believe this system insures that people who have gotten to the store first will get the products they came for. For more information on the ticketing system, check out their FAQs.

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The best and worst Black Friday deals at Target

By Carey Rossi on November 19, 2012 in

Target

Every year ConsumerSearch editors analyze the Black Friday flyers to determine what deals are worth your Black Friday dollars. We realize that many are brand loyal to stores so this year we create cheat sheets for electronics and home and kitchen appliances by store. Here are the best and worst of what you can find at Target.

In addition to their "It's on, Black Friday sale" that runs from 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving until 11 p.m. Friday and then 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Saturday, they are running a "Beat the Rush" sale, which we did not analyze since it is done regionally. Also, all Black Friday deals are available at Target.com. Read more

The best and worst Black Friday deals at WalMart

By Carey Rossi on November 19, 2012 in

Walmart

Every year ConsumerSearch editors analyze the Black Friday flyers to determine what deals are worth your Black Friday dollars. We realize that many are brand loyal to stores so this year we create cheat sheets for electronics and home and kitchen appliances by store. Here are the best and worst of what you can find at WalMart.

Many of WalMart's deals are being offered now and their Black Friday deals are organized by events: Thursday or Thanksgiving at 8 p.m., Thursday or Thanksgiving at 10 p.m., Friday at 5 a.m., and online. All of the deals are while supplies last and many are selling out now. Read more

Create a Black Friday shopping list -- and stick to it

By Carey Rossi on November 16, 2012 in

Holiday shopping list

Whether you partake in the Black Friday madness in-person or virtually, the best way to get what you need from the largest shopping day of the year is to be prepared. Here's how to create your Black Friday shopping strategy and stick with it. Read more

Black Friday's worth: The items you should and shouldn't buy

By Carey Rossi on November 14, 2012 in

A purse with a marked down price tag

After years of analyzing Black Friday flyers, ConsumerSearch editors know what to and what not to buy on the day that retailers embrace with gusto. Honestly, there isn't much; most items will see bigger price drops the second week of December according to past price analysis. Here's what we have learned from the ghosts of Black Fridays past. Read more

Find your favorite yogi: How to choose a yoga instructor

Fitness & Sports
By Carey Rossi on September 6, 2012 in

Find your favorite yogi: How to choose a yoga instructor

September is a time when many start to re-evaluate their fitness routines. The leaves on the trees start their decent in the warm tones of red, orange, yellow and brown and the air feels different--not just cooler. Heading outdoors for a workout may no longer be an option depending on your cold temperature tolerance.

September also happens to be National Yoga Month. And just as yoga is an outdoor activity for some during the warmer months, there is a plethora of studios and classes to choose from as you head indoors. These tips will help you find your yoga instruction Zen. Read more

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